'Hoss' Is The Official Slang Word Of Texas, Slate Says

Five stories that have North Texas talking: Texas’ slang word is ‘hoss;’ Dan Patrick says there’s war on police; a college student is riding a Barbie Jeep around campus; and more.

When you think Texas, what comes to mind? For Slate, it’s “hoss.” Slate developed a list of official words for each state in the U.S. (For the record, hoss means partner or friend. Slate used it in a sentence: “Hey, hoss, would you mind trussing that there pig?”) Here’s how Slate came up with itsUnited Slang of America: “First, we called up some linguists who helped us make an initial list of unique words that are in one way or another associated with a particular state. That got us off to a coruscant start (linguists!). Next we researched online message board discussions about zany terms that have gained popularity in different states. We also surveyed friends and colleagues on the words they most associate with their home states and polled Slate readers on Facebook.” Oklahoma’s word? Quakenado -- an earthquake that occurs at the same time as a tornado. “This quakenado could really use some sharks.” And Louisiana got banquette – or sidewalk. “Estelle regretted wearing high heels after she tripped on a crack in the banquette and dropped her baguette.”

A year ago this month, the first patient diagnosed with Ebola on U.S. soil entered Texas Health Presbyterian in Dallas. Today, the hospital released findings from an independent panel that reviewed what happened and what went wrong. The panel determined that the hospital was not prepared. KERA’s Lauren Silverman reports: “The report says the hospital was not prepared for several reasons. First, there was a lack of communication, teamwork, and physician oversight during Duncan’s original stay in the Emergency Department. Also of concern: Health care workers may have put patient satisfaction over safety and tried to rapidly diagnose and move on to the next patient.” Learn more here.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says there’s a war on police and the media aren’t in the “police officers’ corner.” Patrick talked with Texas Standard, the statewide public radio newsmagazine. Patrick said these are “troubling times” regarding the recent string of incidents in which officers have been shot and killed. “When you see and hear the verbal attacks on the internet, on 24-hour cable news, that are vicious verbal attacks followed up by murderous attacks on police – we are at a very troubled time in our country,” Patrick said. He told Texas Standard he blames some media outlets: “Quit focusing on the small percentage of those in law enforcement who have made a mistake or have broken the law themselves.” Listen to the interview here.

A Texas college student is getting a lot of attention for driving a Barbie Jeep around the Texas State campus.The San Antonio Express-News reports: “One battery-powered, Barbie Jeep-riding Texas State student is not allowing a DWI arrest stop her from getting around on her own four wheels. Tara Monroe, an industrial engineering junior, said her license was automatically suspended after refusing a breathalyzer test after a Waka Flocka concert. Her father drove to San Marcos from Kingwood, her hometown, to strip her of her vehicle, leaving her with a bike to get around.” She didn’t care for the bike, so she went on Craigslist and spotted a Barbie jeep. She bought it for $60. She’s been driving around campus “leaving a trail of her laughter and Snapchats everywhere.” [San Antonio Express-News]

Labor Day is approaching – and so is a big travel weekend. So what’s it like to be at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport? The Associated Press got behind-the-scenes access at D-FW and American Airlines and produced this video: